Thursday, February 14, 2008

"Derailed" turns two. Looks to the future.


Today is “Derailed’s” second anniversary or blog-iversary as my daughter calls it.

Lately, people (i.e. my sisters) have been telling me that I should write a book. They think I should take my best essays, bind them together and send them off to a publisher in New York. With this in mind, I spent the past few days looking over the “Derailed” archives trying to select my best pieces. While I agree that some of my stories are worthy of publishing, I don’t believe I have enough quality work to fill a book. Maybe Someday???
The second problem is the title. There already is a book called “Derailed.” In fact, it was a best seller a few years back, and it was even turned into a popular movie by the same name.

David, my niece Erin's husband, once told me that he loved my blog, but he wasn’t crazy about the title. “How about Off Track,” he suggested. I told him that I thought that this sounded more like a racing form (as in OTB) and besides, I kind of liked the name “Derailed.” But the more I think about it, maybe David's right. After all, he does own his own marketing firm which specializes in “branding” for major corporations.

Here's my idea for the book cover:





Now that the book’s front cover is settled, I started thinking about the back. Maybe there could be a glossy black in white picture of me sitting crossed legged before a giant field stone fireplace. I'm sitting in a big overstuffed leather armchair, dressed in a tweed jacket with leather patches on the elbows. The jacket is accesorized with an ascot (of course). I have a pipe in one hand and a martini in the other. At my feet sit two giant Irish Wolf Hounds.




Note to self: Contact Jake Gyllenhaal to star in “Off Track-The Movie.”




15 comments:

Tony Alva said...

I'd go with a picture of you at the wheel of a speeding Metro North train fast asleep.

Anonymous said...

Isn't Jake Gyllenhaal that Gay guy from Brokeback mountain?

Anonymous said...

Jason Alexander would be a better choice

Anonymous said...

what about that guy who played "Stork" on Animal House

Anonymous said...

How about Richard Simmons?

Anonymous said...

or the horse that played "Mr. Ed"

Anonymous said...

the guy that played "Fred" on "I Love Lucy" would be a good likeness.

Bobby said...

Where's the love?

Anonymous said...

Come on guys give Bobby a little respect we should call Jim J Bullock

Anonymous said...

MAN!!!
You commenters (above) are C O L D!!!
We're all allowed to dream, aren't we?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the mention!
How about Ed Harris?

Jeff said...

I'd buy the book. I love reading about people i know purely through at least 7 degrees. Anyways, i think it's a great idea, and i wouldn't just throw the idea out of the window because you don't think you have enough material. If a publisher says you don't have enough material, then you probably don't have enough material. My point is, don't just throw out the idea because you have your doubts... just keep writing, submit your work, and see what happens. You can't win if you don't play.

Anonymous said...

I am a big fan of the idea, but this is hard! I have spent weeks and weeks putting my essays together from almost five years of blogs and I am even taking another two weeks off later this month to head back to the lonely editing den at a house near the ocean. I think I am going to self publish and then see what happens. It costs a few thousand up front, but if you got the nuts, I think you have to try. I formed a new LLC and then have away shares to investors in the stuff, and then committed to editing it into book form by July 1. The idea is to self publish the essays and get it done before stores start stocking for the holidays. But it's really hard.

Anonymous said...

Alright, so it seems we have the actor playing you all set, but who's gonna play me, C, and mom?

I think C wants to be played by Miley Cyrus...LOL

Anonymous said...

how about "rail tails"or you could call it "a funny thing happen on the way to the office" i would love to read the book